Engine rocker arm



Feb 4, 3947. J. M. LEAKE" ENGINE ROCKER ARM Filed Sepc'. 11, 1944 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT I on ENGINE ROCKER, ARM

Ja e .M-i a roe .Micl Application September 11, 1944, Serial No. 5513645 i ZClaims.

1 My invention relates toengine rocker arms and more particularly to the type employed in the overhead -va1ve type of internal combustion engme. jHe-retofore the rockerarms used in combination with internal combustion engines have been of solid structure. Originally the rocker arms were either castings or forgings. My former roclger arm disclosed in 'Patent No. 2,176,083, gave much more strength per unit of weightthan did'the old type of rocker arms which were cast or forged. The increased strength was due to the fact that -my former stamped rocker arm was constructed from sheet metal material which has greater strength than cast or forgedmetal. My roclger arm shown in Patents Nos. 2,345,822 and--2,338, 726 provides a U-shaped engine rocker arm combined with suitable hub members. These rocker arms give more strength than did my original rocker arm provided with a lamihated arm member. Myimproved engine r e er arm combinesthe use of sheet metalwith an arm member of substantially :bqx-lilre construction. The arm memher is made of two halves of -U- shaped cross section. These two halves telescope when assembled and thereby provide a double wall at a point where the greatest strength is required. My improved engine rocker armprovides more strength for the 'same weight of "arm than do any of the present engine rocker arms. My engine rocker arm f nds great utility when applied to l the i-present dayhigh speed internal combustion Big 111638 it has the attributes of strength andfrig 'idity coupled withcQn' parative-ly little weight? Especially with the higher speed enines, it isKVery Qessential that the weight of thfloscillating rocker arm be reduced to a minileum; In airplane engines the weight factor is doubly importantbecause it directly effects the m ter load/ Since there fare at least two enginei ocker armsiror each cylinder; the weight factor is quite an iteLm in an airplane engine;

'It is asp importantthat this decrease in weight beacomplishedwith no or very little increase 1.-

ln cost. gMy engine rocker arm is adapted for quantity production and can be manufactured at a very reasonable cost.

One object of my invention-is to provide an engine rocker arm thatprovide'sa cross section giving maximum strength for the material used.

Another object of myiinvention is to. provide anengine rocker arm thatrequires little. or no machiningoperations.

Another object of .my invention .is to provide an engine rocker arm that controls .or meters the lubricant to the contacting bearings.

Another .object of my invention is .to provide a rocker arm with a maximum of strength, rigidity and durability with .a minimum of weight and cost.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists :in the construction, combination and arrangements of the various parts of my improved .engine rocker arm as described in the specification claimed in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of my improved engine rocker arm without the adjustable contacting bearing.

Fig, 2 is .a front elevation of the engine rocker arm shown in Fig. 1 provided with an adjustable contacting bearing.

Fig. .3 isan end elevation .ofmy novel engine rocker arm.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of Fig.2. 1

Fig. 5 is asectiona-l view taken along line 55 ofFig. 2. v

. Figl ;6 is a sectional view taken along line GTSofFig I.

Fi 7 s seotie l i w a e signal ng 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is asectional view showing a slightly modified form of my invention.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the oil transmitting member. Y

Fig, 10 is a sectional view taken along line I6l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a topplan view of. the oil transmittingmember shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is La. iragmentarysectional view of an engine ..rocker .arm showing ,a slightly modified scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A sheet metal engine rocker arm, comprising an arm member; said arm member comprising a lower stamped metal member of U-shaped cross section, and an upper stamped member of inverted Ushaped cross section, said upper stamped member being larger in lateral dimensions than said lower stamped member, said upper and said lower stamped members telescoped whereby an arm member of substantial rectangular cross section with vertically laminated. walls is provided, an enlarged depth portion in said lower stamped metal member intermediate its ends, a hub member extending transversely across said arm member in said enlarged depth portion and secured in apertures and located entirely in said lower stamped member, an internally threaded member secured between the side walls of said lower stamped member in engagement with said upper stamped member, and an aperture in said upper stamped member and an aperture in said lower stamped member in axial alignment with the bore of said internally threaded member.

2. A hollow sheet metal engine rocker arm comprising an arm member, said arm member comprisin an upper inverted U-shaped stamping, a

6 lower U-shaped stamping increasing in depth intermediate its-ends, a hub member extending transvers to said arm member and secured entirely in said lower stamping, said upper stamping being larger in lateral dimensions than said lower stamping, said upper stamping telescoping said lower stamped member, an aperture in said hub communicating with the bore of said hub, an aperture in said upper stamping communicating with the upper surface thereof, a member provided with a passageway extending from said hub to the upper wall portion of said upper stamping, said passageway extending from said aperture in said hub to said aperture: in said upper stamping.

JAMES M. LEAKE.

REFERENCES oi'rm) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,219,361 Haberstump Oct. 29', 1940 1,911,459 Mitchell May 30, 1933 1,977,450 Mitchell Oct. 16, 1934 1,699,657 Fagen Jan. 22, 1929 908,009 Kenyon Dec. 29, 1908 2,345,822 Leake Apr. 4, 1944 

